Overlooked Draft Day Secrets: Kicker Edition
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There is a general misconception among the fantasy football community that kickers and defenses should be drafted as late as possible. That may be due to the variation that most kickers experience from week to week and how prone they can be to a bad week because of an unfavorable matchup. While both of those things are still concerning, there are some small tricks that can be used to find a top kicker every year. The key to doing so is to recognize the correlation between a strong offense and a good fantasy kicker. Last season, the top two kickers were Greg Zuerlein and Stephen Gostkowski. They also happened to play for the two highest scoring offenses per game. With that premise in mind, here are 3 kickers that we think are worth picking before the last round of your draft:
Justin Tucker:
Even with an offense that finished 27th in the NFL in Yards per Game, Tucker was still able to finish as the 4th fantasy kicker. The Ravens offense has taken significant strides for improvement with the additions of Crabtree, Hurst, Snead and John Brown. Tucker should be ready to take advantage given he has one of the biggest legs in the league. In 10 of Tucker’s last 12 games, he finished with double-digit points, and this trend is expected to continue this season. Expect a top 3 fantasy performance from Tucker and look for him to be one of the first kickers taken off of draft boards.
Robbie Gould:
The 49ers made key changes on the offensive side of the football in the past year, building around QB Jimmy Garoppolo. The strides the 49ers offense make are sure to increase the production of veteran kicker Robbie Gould. Gould finished as the 3rd fantasy kicker overall, and 1st overall in the 5 game stretch that Garoppolo started, with 65 points during that span. While they might not take the field at the same time, Garoppolo and Gould have had a high correlation of success and there is no reason to expect that to change this season. Gould should be able to put up another top 5 fantasy season and is worth a draft pick prior to the final round.
Matt Prater:
The Lions offense has been lacking a strong rushing game for years. Investing a 2nd round pick in Kerryon Johnson could be just the spark the team needs to get them back on track. Matt Prater, whose ability to kick 50+ yard field goals keeps him fantasy relevant, will benefit even more from this balanced offensive attack. Prater may not be as consistent as Tucker or Gould, but he is the perfect kicker for owners interested in high upside. Prater should be taken a round or two before the last round, but the difference between him and the guy you would get in the last round should make it worth it. Prater should finish top 7 overall with multiple weeks of top 3 production.
Everyone seems to write off the kicker position as one that “isn’t as valuable as WR or RB”. While it may be pricier to find a RB or WR, it should be noted that top kickers score in the 160-180 point range which in 2017 put them on par with the likes of Julio Jones, Brandin Cooks and Devonta Freeman. All fantasy owners have had weeks where they lose by a couple points and think about what they could have done differently. Taking a kicker a couple rounds before the end of your draft could be just the difference between winning and losing those close games, and that alone is why they deserve to be valued.